The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to cancel a contract with Robinson Janitorial.
Robinson Janitorial has been cleaning what is now considered to be the former Road Department building on Airline Road. The building is split between the driver’s license office and the county’s permit office. The road department shared half on the building with the permit department until the road department moved from the location last month.
Robinson charged the county $120 to clean the road department office twice a month.
When the road department moved to a new office on Yorkville Road, Robinson continued cleaning the Airline Road building for the permit office. The permit office currently has three employees.
Clerk Terry Thompson approached the board on behalf of Road Manager Rocky Allen about whether the county should retain the cleaning service.
Thompson said Robinson would charge $55 a week to clean the office or $110 for twice a month and $238 for a four times a month.
Supervisor Leroy Brooks asked why the road department needed a janitorial service in the first place.
“I think everybody ought to clean their own office,” he said.
Brooks suggested that trustees with the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center or individuals on the county work program could clean the road department.
Brooks noted that trustees already clean the courthouse and the Justice Court building.
“We need to look at other options than hiring a janitorial service to clean the maintenance shop,” said Brooks, who told the board he cleans his own office. “I know it’s not a whole lot of money but it is some.”
Sheriff Mike Arledge said he would check on the number of available trustees he had available, but said he did not feel the additional work load would be a problem.
That suggestion was tabled until the next meeting, but the board moved to cancel Robinson Janitorial’s contract. The motion passed unanimously. Robinson has been cleaning the building since 2011.
In other news, Board attorney Tim Hudson informed members of the board that the county was served with a lawsuit dealing with a Section 42 Housing.
Although the board did not discuss the specifics of the suit, Hudson said these types of lawsuits re becoming a state-wide issue with numerous counties being sued.
Tax Assessor Greg Andrews said 14 lots — 12 of them sites of apartment complexes –fell under Section 42 housing. Andrews said the lawsuit did not involve the complexes but two single-family homes.
The board voted to discuss the matter further in executive session.
Supervisor Jeff Smith recognized both Columbus High School and Immanuel Christian School for their recent efforts hosting basketball tournaments. Under the leadership of Coach Sammy Smith, CHS has been hosting the Columbus Classic for 16 years. Coach Rusty Greene assisted Coach Smith.
Immanuel hosted their fifth tournament in December, They were coached by Greg Watkins, Jenny Hutcherson and Coach Billy Thomas.
Supervisor Smith commended both school for their efforts and bringing economic impact to Lowndes County. Both schools were presented with letters of recognition.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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